LT265/70R18/10 124/121S OWL
LT265/60R20/10 121/118R BSW
“These additions bring us to 61 total SKUs for this line. This is a versatile tire – the size lineup should be as well,” says Jedd Emans, vice president of marketing for Hercules Tire.

The Terra Trac AT II, the Terra Trac M/T mud terrain and Terra Trac T/G Max commercial traction tires comprise the Terra Trac Traction Series. Hercules says the series is a complete light truck lineup that offers drivers precise performance and traction, whether driving on the job, on the trails, or on the road.

All Traction Series tires come with Hercules’ Road Hazard Protection Program, which promises free replacment for two years or the first 50% of tread life if a tire fails due to a road hazard during on-road use.

The new sizes will be available in the U.S., Canada and Australia through American Tire Distributors, National Tire Distributors, and Hercules Tire International.

The 18- and 20-inch LRE sizes are the latest additions to Terra Trac size offerings. Hercules added four sizes to the Terra Trac line in mid-July.

Titan International Inc. is imposing another price increase on its Titan-branded ag, industrial and construction tires made and sold in North America.

The increase will vary by product category, the company says, but will average “approximately 5%.”

It will be effective Sept. 1, 2017.

“This increase will allow Titan to recover increased material and production costs while keeping the Titan brand very competitive in the marketplace,” says Paul Hawkins, vice president of aftermarket sales at Titan.

In April Titan increased the prices of both its Titan- and Goodyear-branded farm tires, by up to 8%. According to the company’s July 19 announcement, this second increase does not apply to its Goodyear-branded farm tires.

For more information, tire dealers are encouraged to contact their local Titan territory sales manager.

Bridgestone’s passenger tire plant in Wilson, N.C., received a GM Supplier Quality Excellence Award for 2016. This is the plant’s fifth year to receive the GM award.

“At Bridgestone, we are committed to working with GM to provide the highest quality products and solutions that reflect our combined focus on performance, sustainability and innovation. We are honored to be recognized by GM for the delivery of high quality products that meet the dynamic needs of the driving public,” says Michael Darr, Wilson plant manager.

Bridgestone says the Wilson plant has been a leader in tire manufacturing innovation during its 43-year history. It was one of the first Bridgestone plants to produce DriveGuard run-flat tires, the first full line of premium, all-season replacement tires engineered to go up to 50 miles after a puncture.

The Wilson plant is currently undergoing a major expansion, with Bridgestone planning to invest up to $344 million in the facility over the next 10 years.

The company says this multi-phase expansion will allow Wilson to meet global demand for high value added tires, as well as improve quality and productivity while reducing costs. The project will add manufacturing space to accommodate new tire assembly machines, materials handling systems, curing presses and associated equipment.

This new space will enable the Wilson plant to potentially increase plant capacity by up to 3,000 tires per day, which, if fully realized, could bring daily production at the Wilson plant to 35,000 tires by 2018.

Bridgestone says this represents a significant milestone for the company and the Firestone Ag team, as the Des Moines Plant received Gold Level in the Caterpillar SQEP Certification for the past three years. “To achieve Platinum Level in the Caterpillar Supplier Quality Excellence Process certification program says a great deal about Bridgestone’s commitment to consistently achieve high standards of quality, productivity and efficiency in support of our customers,” says Greg Halford, Des Moines plant manager.

Bridgestone says the SQEP Certification demonstrates the strong values and ethical principles of Bridgestone in conducting business, as well as the company’s commitment to collaborate with Caterpillar to implement a culture aiming for “zero-defects” across the supply chain. Recognition levels of Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum, reflected in order of increasing difficulty, distinguish outstanding supplier quality performance.

Caterpillar’s SQEP Certification was created to recognize a supplier’s dedication to providing superior quality, and only is awarded to suppliers who demonstrate world-class performance on an ongoing basis. Each year, suppliers are evaluated with increasingly strict criteria for distinguishing outstanding supplier quality, exceptional service and delivery performance.

The Des Moines, Iowa, plant opened in 1945 and produces agricultural, construction, forestry and off-road tires. The plant has received numerous awards, including the 2016 Gold Leadership Award (Baldrige) Award from Iowa Recognition for Performance Excellence.

According to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s Office of Defects Investigation, the affected tires may develop cracks in the lower sidewall, potentially resulting in a loss of air. “A loss of air pressure may result in sudden tire failure, increasing the risk of a crash.”

The NHTSA Recall ID Number is 17T013. This is the second recall of certain Primewell Valera Touring II sizes.

Owners of the recalled tires will be notified by mail about the recall and will be directed to go to the retailer where the tires were purchased for a free replacement. Giti will replace tires as follows: If one or two tires were purchased, two tires will be replaced; if three or four tires were purchased, four tires will be replaced.

The new Firestone Destination M/T2 tire from Bridgestone Americas Inc. is designed to provide maximum traction for 4×4 vehicles, pickup trucks and SUVs in off-road conditions.

The next-generation tire replaces the Firestone Destination M/T, which came out in 2002. Bridgestone says the M/T2 tire “does everything better” than its predecessor. Advances in tire technology, especially compounding, are responsible for improvements in off-road, snow and wet performance.

A new tread compound, three-ply sidewall construction and more aggressive upper sidewall lugs give the Destination M/T2 increased traction in mud and offer stronger resistance to chips and tears.

To maximize traction in mud, Bridgestone placed the tire lugs at 23-degree angles, an innovation borrowed from its farm tractor tires. The “23-degree attack angles” provide more pulling power through rough terrain, according to the company. Stone and mud rejectors help keep the tread clear of debris.

The Firestone Destination M/T2 tire has 20% more biting edges than the predecessor tire for better grip on slick, wet surfaces and in snow conditions. The company also added sipes for better snow traction capability compared to the prior tire. In addition, the Firestone Destination M/T2 tire is studdable.

“For that type of customer we’ve significantly improved the off-road performance capabilities versus the current generation Destination M/T on dry rocks, wet rocks, creeks, mud and sand. In all of these types of off-road conditions, the traction capabilities of the Destination M/T2 have been improved.”

Hayes says the other type of driver who would purchase an M/T tire primarily cares about the look of the product.

“For this type of driver the Destination M/T2 has a much more aggressive look and design than the previous generation product. The tread area has been totally redesigned. The off shoulder area has more rubber and a more protruding image for the driver who wants the tire to look aggressive.”

Hayes specified two areas of “marked improvement” versus the earlier tire. The combination of the new tread compound and new lug design significantly improved chip tear and lug tear performance. The addition of siping to the tread pattern is a contributing factor to improved snow handling capability.

The Firestone Destination M/T2 tire is available in 29 sizes for 15- to 22-inch wheels. The fitments include three 37-inch tires. Delivery to stores begins in July. Most of the tires will be made at the Bridgestone plant in Joliette, Quebec.

Hayes says the Destination M/T2 pricing will be similar to its predecessor, giving drivers additional performance and capability at no additional cost.

“For the Destination M/T2 we targeted best-in-class performance without charging the highest price in the industry. We feel this product will offer tremendous value for someone looking for an M/T tire.”

Key fitments for the Destination M/T2 are the Toyota Tacoma TRD, Jeep Wrangler and Jeep Rubicon. The M/T2 will compete against the BFGoodrich T/A KM2 and the Toyo Open Country M/T.

Yokohama Tire Corp. has been producing off-road tires since 1982, when the Super Digger was launched. Thirty-five years later, the company still offers the Y829 Super Digger III bias off-road racing tire in size 33×10.50-15!

The Geolandar M/T directional tire was introduced in 1998. Yokohama tweaked the design and compounding in 2004; the resulting M/T+ G001 became a new SKU number, but was hardly a new tire.

More than two decades have passed since the creation of the original Geolandar M/T, which makes the new Geolandar M/T G003 highly anticipated by Yokohama dealers in the U.S.

The M/T G003 features a non-directional tread pattern and is equal to or superior in every way to the tire it replaces, the G001, says Bob Abram, senior manager of product planning.

“The directional tread design of the old G001 wasn’t playing with customers or dealers. Getting the looks right of this tire was important because we knew what happens when you don’t get the looks right, even if the performance is pretty good.”

Features and benefits

Yokohama says the Geolandar M/T G003 is superior to the G001 not only in mud traction but also in dry braking and snow braking. It also weighs less, which results in greater fuel efficiency.

The tire’s dry, mud and wet traction were engineered using a triple-polymer tread compound combined with optimized sipes and “an ideal” block-to-void ratio. The tread also features an advanced variable pitch pattern that Abram says will be a big selling point for Yokohama dealers.

“One of the things that came out of our research with consumers and dealers alike is they want a quiet tire — for a mud tire. They don’t expect it to be touring tire quiet, but they would like to use it as an extra selling feature.

“We’ve got a new multi-pitch variation that helps keep the noise down. That helps even out those peak harmonics, which are what make a lot of the noise when the tire is rolling at highway speeds.”

Yokohama’s new Geo-Shield construction incorporates multiple sidewall plies, steel belts, a full nylon cap and a high turn-up carcass into the design. All Load Range E and D sizes feature three-ply technology.

“The three-ply is important as a marketing tool,” he says. “It gives consumers confidence that we have extra strength in the sidewall to protect against punctures and to hold up to heavy use. Also, that full nylon cap helps you avoid tread punctures, so there is an extra layer of protection there.”

Abram says sidewall durability is not a major concern for the urban cowboy, but “is a huge issue for people who are really beating up and using their vehicles off-road.”

The G003’s Sidewall Armor not only protects the sidewall against impacts, but also adds traction elements to the design. And it gives the tire a unique, aggressive look.

“We were trying to avoid coming out with an M/T tire that was so ‘me, too,’ that looked just like the Toyo Open Country M/T or the Hankook Dynapro MT RT03 or BFGoodrich T/A KM2, for example. We didn’t want that to happen, but we also wanted to say to the extreme off-roader, ‘We have something extra for you.’”

By the end of the year, the Geolandar M/T G003 will be available in 37 Q-rated sizes, with rim diameters ranging from 15 to 20 inches. They will be introduced in three waves, broken out by the following load ranges:

According to Abram, the mud-terrain segment in the U.S. accounted for more than 3.6 million tires in 2016, compared to more than 2.8 million in 2012.

The top five selling light trucks in 2016 were the Ford F Series, Chevy Silverado, Dodge Ram, GMC Sierra and the Jeep Wrangler. Those vehicles “are right in our wheelhouse of what we want as potential fitments for this Geolandar mud tire,” he says. So are some specialized vehicles designed for more rugged duty like the F-150 Raptor, Jeep Wrangler Rubicon, and the Toyota 4Runner TRD Pro.

The International Trade Commission (ITC) is a step closer to having a full six-person membership. Jason Kearns, who had been nominated to the commission by President Barack Obama days before he left office, is expected to be re-nominated for the same post by President Donald Trump.

The president announced his intention to nominate Kearns on June 26.

The vacancy on the commission became important to the tire industry in February when the ITC voted 2-3 against the imposition of tariffs on truck and bus tires imported from China. A sixth member of the commission recused himself from the tariff investigation, and many cited his absence as the key factor. If the commission’s vote had resulted in a tie, tariffs would have been imposed.

Kearns, of Colorado, currently serves as chief international trade counsel, on the Democratic staff, to the Committee on Ways and Means in the U.S. House of Representatives. He advises members of Congress on legislation related to trade and oversight issues with the office of the U.S. Trade Representative. He previously served three years in the Office of the General Counsel to the U.S. Trade Representative, and from 2000 to 2003 worked in international trade with the law firm WilmerHale.

If approved, Kearns would serve the remainer of a nine-year term, which expires Dec. 16, 2024.

In May Marangoni Tread North America Inc. filed a petition on the White House website on behalf of the retreading industry, asking the president to fill the vacant spot on the commission, and hopefully review the truck tire case. The petition fell far short of its goal of 100,000 signatures, which is the threshold for the White House to respond to any petition it receives.

In a press release following the president’s nomination announcement, Marangoni says, “The petition drive was linked to the industry’s desire to see the U.S. government reconsider an investigation into the perceived damage to the U.S. truck tire manufacturing and retreading industries from low-priced, low-quality Chinese imports.”

Crop genetics improve farmers’ yields, but stronger plant stalks take a destructive toll on implement tires. Bigger implements boost agricultural output, but the extra weight increases the risk of soil compaction. Growers are asking tire dealers for solutions, especially to combat stubble damage.
There are more implement tire options designed to solve a specific issue or provide a specific benefit than ever before, according to James Tuschner. He is founder of Ag Tire Talk, a blog devoted to helping growers, tire dealers and equipment dealers understand the growing complexity in agricultural tires.

At Tuschner’s agtiretalk.com blog, tire damage caused by ever-stronger hybrid stubble is the biggest concern raised by growers. For growers whose priority is stubble resistance, bias I-1 offerings now include specially formulated stubble resistant compounds and additional belt construction to thwart punctures, according to Tuschner. If reducing soil compaction and attaining higher speed are priorities, radial D speed rated tires are now being offered in both IF and VF (Increased Flexion/Very High Flexion) ratings.

In addition, implement tire tread patterns are evolving from traditional straight rib to improve roll. A traditional straight rib tread design, especially in muddy conditions, tends to plow through the field as opposed to roll, exacerbating soil compaction. New tread designs are engineered to continue rolling in varied conditions and applications, Tuschner says.

“The quest for implement tires to perform at higher speeds, with less soil compaction and with more stubble resistance will continue. Grower desire for more productivity with ever stronger hybrid crops is here to stay,” says Tuschner. “As a result, markets will continue to see a widening array of implement tire options to fit a specific need or solve a specific problem.”

At the original equipment level, Tuschner sees a shift from standard bias I-1 implement tires that have been in production for decades to the latest radial tires with larger cross sections, higher speed ratings, and IF/VF ratings, indicating a focus on higher speeds and reducing soil compaction.

Tuschner suggests dealers ask growers four questions to ensure the best tire for the application:

Are you satisfied with the tire you are using now?
Are you having issues with downtime caused by stubble-related punctures?
Are you seeing yields go down dramatically in traffic paths from soil compaction?
What is the application and speed you will be travelling?

Straight rib tires are going away

Equipment is more specialized now than at any time in mechanized agricultural history, according to James Crouch, marketing specialist at Alliance Tire Americas Inc. Agricultural implements traditionally have been fitted with standard farm tires. “Over the years, implement manufacturers have recognized the value of engineering tires to optimize the performance of their machines. The need for implements to be transported at higher speeds has inspired additional innovation.”

The growing popularity of the high-clearance sprayer, which really boomed with the introduction of no-till farming and Roundup Ready crops, is a natural for tire specialization, according to Crouch. “These sprayers end up spending as much time or more on the road as in the field, so the old-school R1 or tractor tires just aren’t up to the job.”

He says tires like the Alliance Agriflex 363 are designed with that profile in mind. “The 363 is an IF tire that features a center rib of sturdy tread blocks that provides stability and lateral traction on the road but it still provides excellent in-field traction and self-cleaning. Unlike a traditional ag tire, the 363’s heavy block-pattern center rib offers increased tread life and improved handling on the road.”

The Alliance 363 IF is a steel-belted radial. “That feature, along with the extra-flexible sidewall, allows us to create a longer, more even footprint, which is great for traction in the field as well as on the road. The steel belts also dissipate heat for longer service life on sprayers with high road hours.”

Crouch says a similar design in the Alliance Multi-Use 550 provides better flotation and excellent snow performance. “We have seen the 550 used on equipment ranging from heavy planters to self-propelled sprayers and combines, even tractors.”

Christopher Durbin, manager-OE at Balkrishna Industries Ltd. (BKT), notes that today’s implement machines weigh as much as 50,000 pounds. “The American farm is trending to large-scale production, which means larger machinery to cover more area in faster times. The massive implement machines need to be pulled by even bigger tractors, which leads to increased soil compaction,” he says.
“Traditional rib pattern-type implement tires must have significant increases in air pressure to accommodate these loads, which creates increased ground pressure. This causes the days of the simple, straight rib implement tires to be almost gone as operating at necessary higher inflation pressures causes significant soil compaction and rutting in the field relating to decreased crop yield.”
To alleviate soil compaction, BKT is designing tires that carry heavy loads while reducing the amount of ground pressure. BKT first addressed the need for a rejuvenated rib implement tire by designing the RIB 713, which utilizes IF technology to increase load capacities and transport speed abilities.

BKT has also recently introduced VF technology in the AW 711 radial implement tire. “The VF technology allows the tires to carry heavy loads at reduced air pressures, which helps to reduce the effects of ground pressure,” says Durbin.

“As with VF R1W tractor tires, VF metric implement tires can operate at 43% less air pressure than a traditional rib pattern of the same nominal overall diameter and section width for the load capacity requirement.”

Durbin says that by using these new implement tires on towed equipment with higher horsepower tractors, the farmer can keep field productivity high and increase crop yields.

Axle load is increasing, according to Brad Harris, manager of global agricultural field engineering at the Firestone Ag division of Bridgestone Americas Inc. “Firestone Ag is seeing an increase of axle load on implement tires. While the load requirements on implement tires are continuing to increase, tire sizes are being kept the same to fit in the same dimensional windows. As equipment manufacturers increase the width of implements, up to 60 feet wide in the field, the implement must fold to widths of less than 20 feet to travel on the road. When an implement folds, all of the weight is being carried by four tires.”

To address the issue of increased load, Firestone Ag has developed radial implement tires that follow IF and VF load formulas, according to Harris. IF and VF radial tires are standards that were adopted by the Tire and Rim Association in the late 2000s. “IF-marked tires carry 20% more load than a standard radial tire at the same inflation pressure, and VF-marked tires carry 40% more load than a standard radial tire at the same inflation pressure. These tires carry more load than same-sized bias tires at lower inflation pressures. Lower tire inflation pressure helps reduce soil contact pressures, which can improve crop yield. Radial implement tires also are D speed rated (40 mph) so they can carry the heavier loads at higher transport speeds.”

Travis Little, product manager for ag and construction at Carlstar Group LLC, says implement tire products are a focus in the company’s expanding aftermarket portfolio. “Each implement tire is unique and customized in its use for the job it is doing. This customization can be seen in the development of the tire, the compounds and materials used as well as the design of the tread. These elements will always be a trend for tire manufacturers.”

Laurent Le Dortz, director of marketing for agricultural and compact product line for Michelin North America Inc., notes that bias tires are no longer sufficient to carry the weight of larger implements. Reduced compaction and other benefits of six or eight low-pressure radial tires on a tractor are negated when it is pulling an implement fitted with eight, 12 or more high pressure bias tires.

To solve this issue, Michelin offers products such as the Michelin XP27 and Michelin CargoxBib heavy-duty and high flotation tires. “For manure tanks, bias tires are very large and have an impact on the soil by compacting it. This affects the productivity and crop success,” says Le Dortz.

Manure spreaders in Europe have been equipped with low pressure radial tires for more than 20 years, according to Le Dortz. In addition, farmers in many European countries have been using central tires inflation systems (CTIS) to avoid compaction, reduce fuel consumption on the road and in the field, and improve tire tread wear.

The Michelin CargoxBib high flotation tire, launched two years ago in the North American market, is especially designed for manure tank applications. “It is the only implement tire on the market which has been designed to work with CTIS. It offers a really low pressure capacity in the field, high casing endurance, a special tread design to optimize tread resistance and self-clean, and has exceptional road handling.”
Bob Snyder, regional sales manager at Specialty Tires of America Inc., says his company is seeing more demand for implement tires that are more resistant to stubble damage. “Our latest development tire to have this type of protection is our Stalk Buster tire. This tire has an improved rubber compound for greater tire protection while providing better flotation. Soil compaction is a major issue for farmers and demand for flotation tires is increasing.”
Larger farms and faster and larger tractors pulling bigger equipment at higher speeds are the main reasons for more vehicle-specific implement tires and tread patterns, according to Bill Dashiell, senior vice president of TBC Corp.’s commercial tire division. “These changes in equipment and the desire to reduce time between fields require products that will go faster, have increased load capacities yet also provide soil compaction reduction.”

He says the Harvest King Field Pro Highway Service FI tire is designed to transport implements and wagons at highway speeds while providing the stubble resistance and side traction needed in the field and on the road. The Department of Transportation (DOT)-approved tire is rated for 62 mph.

There also is an increase in VF and IF high flexion tire technology. “These tires provide a flatter footprint, have a higher weight capacity and increased speed capability while requiring lower air pressures and significantly reduced soil compaction. Zigzag designs are available with VF/IF technology which provide a smooth ride and increased stability on side hill usage. TBC offers the BKT VF and IF line of products to support our customers’ needs for VF and IF products,” says Dashiell.

Scott Sloan, agricultural product manager at Titan International Inc., notes that equipment is larger, but not different from earlier editions. Planters are one example. “There are 36-row planters now versus eight-row or six-row planters,” he says. “OEs have been fitting their larger planters and tillage equipment with radial tires for about 10 years. The ground bearing pressures in a radial tire are a little bit lower than a standard bias tire in most applications.”

Implement tires have morphed into 18, 22.5 and 26.5 sizes on some of these larger pieces of equipment, according to Sloan. “There’s some implement tires that are almost 40 inches wide and 50 inches tall.”

Titan sees a market with the old bias sizes that need replaced. “So instead of a 12.5 L15, you have a 230.70-15 radial tire. There’s an aftermarket potential for radialization that we’re just starting to dip our toe in here at Titan,” says Sloan. “Over the last five years, growers have become more aware of the issues of compaction and trying to yield as much as they possibly can and every little bit helps. You can have a tire carrying a planter running at 90 psi; you can go to a radial tire that runs at 56 psi; it’s a larger footprint so you have a lot less ground compaction to carry that same load.”
Expect more purpose-built tires
What’s in the pipeline for implement tires? Manufacturers told MTD the move toward bigger tires for bigger machines, heightened awareness of soil compaction, and the need for stubble-resistant products will lead to more purpose-built tires for implements.

Crouch, Alliance: Specialized patterns for manure tanks and skid steers are already very well accepted. With modern analytical tools, we know more than ever about issues like soil compaction that happen where tires interact with the ground’s surface, and we have become more skilled and creative at designing tires that perform better.

Compound development has also been a major focus. Part of the goal has been to optimize tread compounds for the combination of on-road and off-road use, which requires the right blend of scrub resistance, puncture resistance and the prevention of heat buildup. Since seed companies have perfected corn hybrids that ward off insect pressure and corn and wheat varieties that resist snapping or falling over in windy conditions, the other major goal is preventing puncture. That crop residue is like a field full of sharpened stakes after harvest, so rubber compound and construction have to be tougher than ever.

The bottom line is that equipment companies, tire experts and farmers are starting to recognize the immense value of selecting the best tire for the machine and the conditions — and that the best tire is not necessarily a traditional lug design.

Durbin, BKT: As world populations continue to increase, the demand for higher crop yields will push the limits of the machinery. Larger pieces of equipment are constantly being released which reduces input costs, i.e., man-hours and fuel usage. Implement tires will need to be technologically designed to combat against higher load capacities, stronger field stubble and increased transport distances. BKT is designing tires with IF and VF technology for the larger machines. BKT also uses stubble-resistant compounds in implement tires to resist against damage from today’s GMO crops. In addition, steel belts and radial technology have advanced the transport speeds of the implement equipment as well. Everything comes down to efficiency and productivity.

Harris, Bridgestone: As farm implements continue to get larger, the axle weights will continue to increase. Because of the configuration of the implements, it is difficult to use a tire with a diameter taller than 47 inches.

Little, Carlstar: We focus our efforts on the technology and performance of the specific tire and the requirements of our customers and our end consumers. We also focus on the aftermarket to ensure that the customers who purchase our products can find them readily available in the aftermarket. With a slight growth increase expected in the ag market in 2018, we will monitor original equipment and aftermarket trends.

Le Dortz, Michelin: Although the bias part of the market continues to be strong, I believe the advantages of yield, fuel saving, tread wear, casing endurance, comfort (for driver and machines) that radial tires exhibit will continue to make them more popular. Radial tires can be more expensive initially than bias but you need to look at the total value as a return on investment. Michelin radial tires price point can be higher; however, the value of ownership can be substantial.

Snyder, Specialty Tires of America: DOT-approved tires must be tested for speeds up to 55 miles per hour. There are many implement tires that are running on the highways that do not have this approval and this practice could be problematic if there is a tire failure. There is also equipment that is motorized using implement tires and these will need DOT approval.
Dashiell, TBC: Farms and equipment are both increasing in size and so will the need for farmers to have tires that will be able to handle higher speeds and weight capacities. Reducing soil compaction is a growing initiative and end user demand for VF/IF high flexion technologies will increase as a growing number of farm equipment manufacturers understand the payback on the investment in these high-tech tires will outweigh the cost of the initial investment in these tires. Europe has already heavily adopted VF and IF tires. While demand in North America is behind the adoption rate of Europe, the number of VF and IF tires sold will only continue to increase.
Sloan, Titan: Demand for radial replacement tires for conventional bias tires is not big on the radar just yet. But I think it will be. In aftermarket sales right now, it’s probably 5% to 8% replacement with radial implements. We’re working on developing our own line of radial implement tires for the aftermarket. We’ve been supplying John Deere and Case and others on the OE side with radial implement tires since 2009. All the newer sizes that are going on John Deere planter or tillage equipment are not switchable with the tires that are currently on the older pieces of equipment. Instead of a 12.5-L15 conventional bias tire, we may have a 380.60-18 size radial tire, so they just can’t take the tire off the rim and put our tire on. That’s why we’re coming out with a radial equivalent later this year or early next that will fit right onto the wheel. The end user will not have to buy a new wheel and tire in order to switch to radial.

Tips for finding the best implement tire

No grower wants to hear the words “flat tire” at planting or harvesting time. MTD asked manufacturers how tire dealers can better meet the needs of growers.

Crouch, Alliance: As with any consumer product, the most important thing for a salesperson is to understand the customer’s true needs. Some questions they need to consider asking are:

How much do you plan to road this equipment?
Do you plan to add any aftermarket equipment that will increase the machine’s weight?
How fast will you pull the implement?
Have you had tire problems in the past? What happened?
These questions will help steer the customer toward a tire that will fit their application. Especially with implement tires, replacing a worn out or failed tire with whatever came on the machine new can be less than ideal. For example, a fairly popular pattern on grain carts and manure tanks is a drive lug R-1W tractor tire. But these implements are often on free-rolling axles that don’t necessarily require that aggressive type of pattern. By asking a few questions, a dealer can discover that an R-1W tire isn’t necessary and instead a less aggressive R3 pattern will often far surpass the farmer’s expectations.

Durbin, BKT: Tire dealers need to be sure to ask the customers as many questions as possible. The answers will help the dealer to know the challenges that must be faced. A tire solution for one customer might not be the same for another. Market knowledge will provide the dealer the tools to stock the correct tires for their area.

The American Farmer Stalk Buster from Specialty Tires of America features a square tire profile shape for extra flotation with maximum stubble resistance.
The American Farmer Stalk Buster from Specialty Tires of America features a square tire profile shape for extra flotation with maximum stubble resistance.
Dealers should also have a complete understanding of tires’ effect on soil compaction. VF tires are more costly than traditional implement tires and require a new wheel (rim) in many cases. A dealer must have the knowledge to be able to discuss with the farmer the benefits of using the VF tires over traditional implement and show the farmer the return on investment for making the change. We suggest working with a farmer and documenting the changeover with that year’s harvest data and compare against previous harvests’ yields. In many cases, one usually sees a minimum of three times increase in crop yield over traditional implement tires. That expected increase is usually significant enough to the farmer to make the investment in the change.
Harris, Bridgestone: We encourage all dealers to talk with their customers about the total value of an implement tire. With the current economic forecast in agriculture, customers don’t want to spend more money than they need to. While radial implement tires may cost more up front, they are designed to carry today’s heavier equipment loads, whereas a less-costly bias tire may be overloaded. This overloaded condition will cause the bias tire to be removed early and could end up costing the customer more in the long run.

The Harvest King Field Pro Highway Service FI tire is DOT-rated for highway use. TBC says it has superior load capacity over comparable I-1 tires at field speeds.
The Harvest King Field Pro Highway Service FI tire is DOT-rated for highway use. TBC says it has superior load capacity over comparable I-1 tires at field speeds.
Little, Carlstar: Closer collaboration with manufacturers and suppliers to ensure complete product information and training for staff. In addition, joint efforts to help identify and engage the end consumers with information in both the retail and digital space. Connecting the OE parts with the aftermarket replacement parts is also key.
Le Dortz, Michelin: Total cost of ownership and downtime are key taking into account all the benefits from the new generation of radial implement tires, such as Michelin CargoxBib high flotation and heavy duty.

Snyder, Specialty Tires of America: Dealers should work closely with their customers. Get familiar with their business and continually look for opportunities to help them. This in turn will help you.

Dashiell, TBC: The main sizes for implements remain 9.5L-15, 11L-15 and 12.5L-15. Now is the time to educate the dealer on the advantages of going radial, IF/VF technologies and improved tread designs. All of the new technologies provide less pressure, increased footprint, and better trailing performance under a wide array of conditions.

The Stubble Guard tire from Titan features stubble-resistant compounding, eight body plies and four Kevlar belts in the tread and sidewalls for superior protection from sharp stalks.
The Stubble Guard tire from Titan features stubble-resistant compounding, eight body plies and four Kevlar belts in the tread and sidewalls for superior protection from sharp stalks.
Sloan, Titan: It’s all about product knowledge. For example, stubble damage on tires is one of growers’ biggest concerns. The OEs use a highway service tire on planters. That tire’s not designed to handle the stubble and residue. The reason OEs use that highway tire is that we as an industry allow them 20% plus-up in the load-carrying capacity of that tire if they operate under 30 miles per hour. For the OEs, it’s an easy engineering decision to put a highway service tire in a certain position and get 20% more capacity. Unfortunately, that tire’s not designed to handle that stubble. That’s why we developed our Stubble Guard line seven years ago for the heavier stubble residue.

Kumho Tire U.S.A. Inc. is supporting Susan G. Komen Greater Atlanta as the sponsor of the survivor area during the 2017 Race for the Cure.

Nearly 10,000 people are expected to participate in the Atlanta event on June 24, 2017.

Kumho’s involvement in breast cancer causes began in 2012 in Korea, where the tire maker participated in a fundraising campaign to raise breast cancer awareness, promoted the importance of regular self-exams and early detection methods along with the Korea Breast Cancer Foundation (KBCF). Kumho is continuing its work now that it has established its U.S. headquarters in Atlanta.

During the event, Kumho will sponsor the survivor area with a hydrating station, and the company will provide 1,000 gifts to survivors. In the post-race area open to public access, Kumho will provide participants and their supporters an interactive experience that features a photo booth, giveaways and atire display to help educate attendees on the importance of selecting the right tires for your ride.